EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Genesis 16:12
12Like a wild donkey, nobody will be able to rule him. He will fight against everyone, and everyone will fight against him. He will think that everyone is his enemy. He will keep away from his brothers.’
Genesis 16:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
- New International Version (NIV)He will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen."
- New King James Version (NKJV)He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”
Context of Genesis 16:12
10The angel also said, ‘I will make the number of your descendants become very many. They will be too many for people to count.’ 11The angel of the Lord said to Hagar, ‘Now you are pregnant and you will give birth to a son. When you cried in pain, the Lord heard you, so you must give your son the name “Ishmael”. Like a wild donkey, nobody will be able to rule him. He will fight against everyone, and everyone will fight against him. He will think that everyone is his enemy. He will keep away from his brothers.’ 13When Hagar heard what the angel said, she said to herself, ‘I have seen the God who sees me!’ So she called the Lord ‘The God who sees me.’ 14That is why they called the well in that place ‘Beer Lahai Roi’. The well is between Kadesh and Bered.
Read all of Genesis 16Genesis 16:12 word by word
וְה֤וּא יִהְיֶה֙ פֶּ֣רֶא אָדָ֔ם יָד֣וֹ בַכֹּ֔ל וְיַ֥ד כֹּ֖ל בּ֑וֹ וְעַל־פְּנֵ֥י כָל־אֶחָ֖יו יִשְׁכֹּֽן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 16:12
- Genesis 21:20God took care of Ishmael while he grew up. The boy lived in the desert. He became a hunter of wild animals.
- Job 11:12Wild donkeys never give birth to human children. And foolish people never become wise!
- Job 39:5Did you send out the wild donkeys to go wherever they want?
- Genesis 27:40You will have to fight to get the things that you need. You will serve your brother as your master. But when you choose to turn against him, you will become free from his power over you.’
- Genesis 25:18Ishmael's descendants lived in the lands from Havilah to Shur. These are near Egypt, towards Asshur. They were always at war with each other.
Commentaries on Genesis 16:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12He will be a wild man - אדם פרא pere adam . As the root of this word does not appear in the Hebrew Bible, it is probably found in the Arabic farra, to run away, to run wild; and hence the wild ass, from its fleetness and its untamable nature. What is said of the wild ass, Job 39:5-8, affords the very best description that can be given of the Ishmaelites, (the Bedouins and wandering Arabs), the descendants of Ishmael: "Who hath sent out the wild ass (פרא…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-16Verses 1-16 - The Birth of Ishmael 1. הנר hāgār Hagar, “flight.” Hejrah, the flight of Muhammed. 7. מלאך mal'ak “messenger, angel.” A deputy commissioned to discharge a certain duty for the principal whom he represents. As the most usual task is that of bearing messages, commands, or tidings, he is commonly called a “messenger” ̓́ angelos ). The word is therefore a term of office, and does not further distinguish the office-bearer than as an intelligent…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-16Verses 7-16 Hagar was out of her place, and out of the way of her duty, and going further astray, when the Angel found her. It is a great mercy to be stopped in a sinful way, either by conscience or by providence. Whence comest thou? Consider that thou art running from duty, and the privileges thou wast blest with in Abram's tent. It is good to live in a religious family, which those ought to consider who have this advantage. Whither wilt thou go? Thou…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-12Hagar’s son would become the father of a large nation. This nation would be strong but often hostile, living in the Arabian Desert and frequently in conflict with Israel (compare 25:18). God blessed Ishmael as Abram's descendant. But God did not choose Ishmael to continue the covenant. God kept that blessing for Abram's heir based on God's promise.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. he will be a wild man--literally, "a wild ass man," expressing how the wildness of Ishmael and his descendants resembles that of the wild ass. his hand will be against every man--descriptive of the rude, turbulent, and plundering character of the Arabs. dwell in the presence of all his brethren--dwell, that is, pitch tents; and the meaning is that they maintain their independence in spite of all attempts to extirpate or subdue them.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 16:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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